Normal-surface turn-table.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. G. G. HAWLEY. NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA}, 1906 3 8HEETS-8HEET 1.

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PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

(LG. HAWLEY. NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLE.

APPLIOATION IIIQBD SEPT.24, 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

' G. G. HAWLEY. NORMAL SURFACE TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE. CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, OF OHIO AGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK A. GALE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NORMAL-SURFACE TURN-TABLE.

Patented. June 2, 1908.

I Application filed September 24, 1906. S eria.l No. 335,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs GILBERT IIAWLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and ImprovedNormaLSurface Turn-Table, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to railroad turn tables and has particularreference to improvements in so-called normal-surface turn tables.

A normal-surface turn table is one which is constructed entirely orsubstantially entirely above the level of the ground on which the tracksto be served are laid. The purpose in so constructing a turn table is todo away with the deep pits of the more common types of turn tables, longrecognized as most objectionable.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a normal surface turntable of a height exactly or substantially corresponding to the normalheight of the rails composing the incoming and outgoing yard trackswhich center at the table.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a turn table of thisclass which shall be amply strong to carry the heaviest of railroadrolling stock, and generally to so improve the construction of normalsurface turn tables as to adapt them to modern requirements.

Still another object of the invention is to simplify the construction ofsuch tables and lessen the cost of installing and maintaining them. u

A further object 'of the invention is to improve the constructlon andoperation of turn table supporting or carrying means to the end that theloads and strains shall be distributed in a better manner, and tothereby enable the production of a turn table of less i weight thanusual and which may be moved or turned with less power.

A further and particular object of the in. vention is to lessen thefrictional resistance to the turning of the table and a further objectis to improve the mechanism employed for rotating large turn tables.

Other objects of my invention will appear My invention consistsgenerally in a turn drawings is of such dimension and may table of theconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The essential features of my invention, as more fully describedhereinafter, are, a low table comprising longitudinal stringers and aplurality of cross members or cross carriers whereon the stringers arearranged; a central pivot for said table; a plurality of circular tracksor rails having their tops substantially flush or level with the groundor ard surface, said tracks being concentric with the table center andbeing spaced to correspond to the spacing of said cross carriers; rollerbearings interposed between'the cross carriers and their respectivecircular rails; means in connection or associated with each cross bearerfor returning the rollers or balls from the rear end thereof to itsforward end, according to the direction of movement of the table; and, atable turning mechanism, preferably mounted for movement with the table.These essential features and further features and details ofmyinventionwill be readily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification and iii-which Figure 1 isa plan view of a turn table embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical transverse section on the irregular line Ii -X of Fig.3, viewed in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3, is a plan view of thestructure shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is a sectional detail on the line Yof Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a top view of one of the cross bearers; Fig. 6 is aside view or elevation thereof partly in section on the line ZZ of Fig.5; Fig. 7, is a vertical section on the line U-U of Fig. 6; and Figs. 8,9, and 10 are diagrammatic sectional views substantially on the lines,R, S and T respectively of Fig. 4, showing the manner in which theantifriction balls are elevated at the ends of the cross bearer.

Modern turn tables are from 50 to 90 feet in length. The tablerepresented inb the;

e 0 even greater length if desired; for the reason that the numerousrotating supports (bearers) of the table in efiect divide it into aplurality of short self sustaining sections, each complete in itself andobviously, any desired number of these sections may be used.

In constructing the table I prefer to employ longitudinal members orstringers, 2*2,

desired the table which are continuous, that is, which extend unbrokenlyfrom end to end of the table; nevertheless, the table may be properlydefined as comprising a'plurality of sections, each made up of a crossmember or carrier, and longitudinal members of suflicient length toreach the next cross carrier, 3-3, and if may be so constructed, theonly requirement being that in such cases the longitudinal members shallbe properly spliced. Continuous stringers provide maximum strength withminimum weight and this is the essential factor which ordinarily leadsme to use continuous stringers in lieu of spliced members. The table isheld by a central pivot about which it rotates. The swing of the tabledetermines and defines the turn table surface 4 as distinguished fromthe ground or yard surface, 5, surrounding the turn table. In carryingout my invention, I prefer to provide a concrete bed or surface, 4, forthe turn table and except for slight depressions which are necessary tothe drainage of the turn table surface, said surface is flush or levelwith the surface, 5, of the railroad yard. The yard tracks, 77, lead upto, and their ends, 7 may be laid upon, the edges of the circularconcrete bed 4 in position to meet the ends of theturn table, the endtie or ties being embedded in the concrete. On the turn table surfaceand embedded therein, I lay a number of circular rails or tracks 88,concentric with the pivot of 'the table. These circular tracks are ofdifferent diamaters and their tops, 8, project slightly above the turntable surface. Rails of special cross section may be employed, ifdesired, but I prefer to employ ordinary railroad rails, curving themand inverting them as shown in Fig. 6. The rail may be used in normalosition, the head of the rail being amply wi e to receive the row ofwheels, rollers or balls on which the table rolls, but I prefer to usethe wider base of the rail in most cases and thereby provide a safetrack for the rolling members, even though the rail be inaccuratelycurved, as sometimes occurs.

I prefer to employ balls as the rolling members of the turn tablebearings, as they permit a very low construction of the table andprovide a large number of bearing points with but slight friction. Thecross bearers of the turn table are provided with suitable ball bearinggrooves which may be of various forms in cross section, but whichpreferably afiord only two points of contact with the balls. Theinverted V shaped groove section shown in Fig. 7 embodies this featureand the balls travel upon the inverted rails, 8. An equivalentconstruction of the turn table bearings is a rail or track, 8, providedwith a V shaped groove for holding the balls, in combination with across bearer having F. plane or substantially plane bottom surace.

Each cross bearer rests on a row of balls, 9, and in connection witheach cross bearer, I provide an idle roll returning device, connectedwith the ends of the cross carrier in such manner that the balls uponleaving one end thereof are returned to the other end. By such a deviceI am enabled to avoid the use of continuous annular rings of ballscoextending with the turn table rails, 8, and to accomplish the purposewith a much smaller number of balls, while permitting the balls to rollas freely as in the ordinary ball bearing.

Means which are operated by the movement of the table may, if desired,be employed for causing the return travel of the antifriction balls; butI prefer to employ the fixed, return races or ducts shown in thedrawings, thereby avoiding all complications incident to rotaryconveyors or the like, which, as indicated may be substituted.

The turn table, as shown in the drawings, comprises two parallel tracksupporting stringers, 2, resting upon the spaced. cross bearers, 3. Theflanged channel members or stringers are represented as resting upon thebottoms of the recesses in the cross bearers. In this regard thedrawings are misleading, the fact being that the channel members are ofslightly less depth than said recesses or notches, it being desirable topreserve the elasticity of the stringers throughout and to avoid restingof the load directly upon the thinnest portions of the cross members. In1 effect, the load is suspended from the top flanges of the channelmembers, and said members are preferably designed with this end in view.

The stringers, 2, carry the low rails, 10, hereafter referred to as theturn table rails. Preferably these rails are only of sufficient heightto hold the wheel flanges of rolling stock off the stringers, 2. Theflanges, 2, of said stringers are secured by rivets, 11, to crossbearers, 3, which are provided with upper lateral flanges, 3, for thispurpose.

The track supporting structure described may be strengthened or bracedin any suitable manner. As shown, braces, .12, having their ends securedto the flanges 2, perform this function. These braces, instead ofextending obliquely from one cross bearer to the next, are preferablyshaped and arranged as shown in Fig. 1; they being riveted together attheir middle points, 12. The cross carriers, 3, are positioned directlyabove the respective tracks, 8, and are formed with ball bearingsurfaces, which, as already stated, may be either plane, concave orgrooved.

The center of the turn table is provided with a stringer-connectingmember or members, preferably of annular form.

13 designates an annular cross bearer or supporting member beneath whichis a circular track (not shown), and between said track l and bearer, aseries of antifriction rolls may be employed. The center pin or centerpin bearing of the table may be secured to, or integral with, thiscentral bearer, 13.

The track supporting stringers, 2, may be reinforced, with reference'tothe load carried thereby, between the cross bearers, 3. This may beaccomplished by means of preferably continuous angle bars, 14, rivetedto the inner sides of said stringers at ,a sufiicient height to passover the tubes, 20.

The structure herein shown is such that the tops of the rails upon thetable are level with the tops of the rails of the yard tracks, while thetops of the table-carrying rails are in the plane of the bottom of theyard tracks. In cases where very heavy rolling stock is to be handled, Iprefer to increase the thickness or height of the cross bearers. Thisnecessitates either a relative lowering of the table rails or raising ofthe stub ends of the yard tracks. Otherwise the structure remains thesame. The cross bearers, 3, or those portions thereof supporting thestringers, 2, may in effect be raised or deepened by forming themwithout the depressions or recesses; but it is preferable to elevatethem between the stringers and also at their ends, in order to providebearing and attaching surfaces for the stringer flanges, 2.

hen the turn table track is formed by an inverted rail of standardsection, the rail is provided with suitable supporting devicesconsisting of chairs or the like; as the combination of base plates withangle lugs. The base plate, 15, of the chair, is laid upon the concreteor other foundation, 16, and its lateral members, 15, are boltedtogether through the web of the rail 8. The chair may be anchored bybolts, 17. The upper part of .the foundation wall is then constructedupon and around the rail, 8, and raised flush with the ground surface,4.. The chairs or supporting devices are spaced at suitable distancesaround the circular track.

A specific form of idle roll returning device is shown in detail inFigs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10. This device comprises two semicircular ballducts, 19, secured to the respective ends of the cross carrier, 3, and atube, trough, or conduit, 20, connecting said ducts, 19. One end of eachduct, 19, is in communication with the roller bearing surface of thecross carrier and its other end is connected to the tube, trough, orconduit, 20. There is thus formed an endless ball race. The balls orrollers beneath the cross carrier will be moved in the same directionthereas but at slower speed, in other words, the balls or rollers willlag behind the cross carrier when the turn table is in motion. Thus theballs or rollers will be discharged, as it were, from the rear end ofthe cross carrier into one of the semicircular ducts, 1 9, and receivedthrough the other duct, 19, at the forward end of the crosscarrier. Thiscirculation of the balls or rollers is'permitted' by the connectingconduit, 20. In order to cause the balls to pass from the track or lowerbearing surface into the idle roll returning device at the rearward sideof the table, I provide lifting devices arranged within the respectivecurved ducts, 19. Said devices comprise an inclined sur face or surfacesupon which the balls are pushed or drawn by the mutual action of thetrack and the cross bearer surface thereon. These'inclined ball liftingsurfaces may be formed directly upon the bottoms of said ducts, asshown. The ball is first engaged below its center by two inwardly turnedflanges, 21, which lie close to the track and are adapted to lift theball therefrom. These flanges converge in the direction of movement ofthe balls and unite, as shown, at 22, thereby forming a groove in thebottom of the duct. This groove may continue and meet the straightportion, 20, of the ball returning device, or the bottom of the duct 19may become fiat, as shown in Fig. 10. The bottom of the duct 19, whenformed in this or any similar manner, will thus transfer the balls orrollers from the bearing surface into the connecting conduit, 20, at oneside of the table, and at the other side of the table the balls orrollers will reenter upon the bearing surface. As the bottoms of theducts, 19, are upwardly inclined from the cross bearers, the topsthereof are correspondingly inclined, or are raised sufliciently topermit the balls to pass through their upper portions.

The ducts, 19, are provided with flanges, 28, which are bolted to theends of the cross bearers and also to flanges upon the ends of the idleball conduit, 20, thus supporting the latter. One or both of the ducts,19 may be provided with an opening, 24, large enough to receive one ofthe balls or rollers, said opening being closed by a cap, 25. Themembers, 26, shown at the ends of the cross bearers, represent trackcleaning appliances, comprising one or more parts ada ted to effectuallyclean the track of obstac es and gritty substances, which would causeundue wear of the roller bearings. When the roller bearing surfaces ofthe cross carrier extend the full length thereof it is convenient to at-115 tach these appliances to the curved castings,

19, as shown in Fig. 3. v

In lieu of the return races whereby the balls are lifted from the tracklevel, 1 may employ wider turn-table tracks and permit 1 the balls toreturn upon the surfaces thus afforded. This construction dispenses withthe ball elevating means, but retains the curved guides or returns atthe ends of the bearing surfaces.

The track stringers, 2, may be continuously connected by a fiat platesecured thereto by rivets and extending substantially the length of saidstringers. Such a plate strengthens and stiifens the turn tablestructure and pro- 13 simply one mode of transmitting the drivingimpulse from the motor to the table. The l motor, 29, is geared to adriving pinion which i meshes with the circular rack, 34, anchored to asuitable foundation within the turn table surface.

Any suitable means for accurately registering and locking the turn tablethe tracks, 5, may be employed.

As various modifications of the invention will readily suggestthemselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit my invention to anyof the specific forms described herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A normal surface turn table comprising circular tracks sunk in anormal surface and a table composed of a plurality of self sustainingsections, each section comprising longitudinal members and a revolvingsupport, substantially as described.

2. The combination with converging yard tracks of a turn table surface,circular tracks laid therein with their tops in the plane of the bottomsof the yard tracks and a turn table comprising a plurality of selfsustaining sections, each composed of longitudinal members and asupporting member, substantially as described.

3. The combination with converging yard tracks of a turn table surface,circular tracks laid therein with their tops in the plane of the bottomsof the yard tracks and a turn table comprising a plurality of selfsustaining sections, each composed of longitudinal members and asupporting member, provided with a roller bearing, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with converging yard tracks of a turn table surface,circular tracks laid therein with their tops in the plane of the bottomsof the yard tracks, and a turn table comprising a plurality of selfsustaining sections, each composed of longitudinal members and asupporting member provided with a roller bearing and with idle rollreturning means, substantially as described.

5. The combination with converging yard tracks of a turn table surface,circular tracks laid therein with their tops in the plane of the bottomof the yard tracks, and a turn table comprising a plurality of sections,each com with any of prising longitudinal channeled rail members and atransverse supporting member, substantially as described.

6. A normal surface turn table comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier supporting said members, said carrier having a rollerbearing surface, a circular track beneath said carrier, and a rollerbearing consisting of rolls and roll returning means, the latter beingadjacent and belonging to, said cross carrier, substantially asdescribed.

7. A normal surface turn table, comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier sup )orting said members, said carrier having a ro lerbearing surface, a circular track beneath said surface and a rollerbearingcomprising rolls, a number of which are active and the remainderidle at any given time and 3 idle roller returning mean all carried bythe turn table, substantially as described.

8. A normal surface turn table comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier having a roller bearing surface, a circular track beneathsaid surface and a roller bearing, comprising active and idle rolls, andso constructed as to return the rolls from the rearward to the forwardend of the bearing surface, during movement of the turn table,substantially as described.

9. A normal surface turn table, comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier having a roller bearing surface, a circular track beneathsaid cross carrier, and a roller bearing carried entirely by the turntable, said bearing consisting of rolls and means for causing the rollsto travel from the rearward to the forward end of the cross carrier,during movement of the turn table, substantially as described.

10. A normal surface turn table comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier, a circular track, and a roller bearing carried by theturn table, said bearing comprising active and idle rolls and soconstructed as to return the rolls from the rearward to the forward endof the bearing surface, during movement of the turn table, substantiallyas de scribed.

11. A normal surface turn table comprising longitudinal rail members, across carrier, a circular track, and a roller bearing carried by thecross carrier, said bearing comprising active and idle rolls and soconstructed as to return the rolls from the rearward to the forward endof the bearing surface, during movement of the turn table, substantiallyas described.

12. A normal surface turn table, comprising longitudinal stringers, across carrier con necting said stringers and having a roller bearingsurface, a circular track beneath said surface, and a circulating rollerbearing, comprising rolls and idle .roll returning means, a number ofthe rolls lying between the cross carrier and the track and theremainder lying within the roll returning means, substantially asdescribed.

13. A normal surface turn table, comprising longitudinal stringers, across carrier connecting said stringers and having a roller bearingsurface, a circular track beneath said surface and a circulating rollerbearing, comprising rolls and idle roll returning guides, a number ofthe rolls lying between the 'cross carrier and the track, and theremainder lying within the roll returning guides, substantially asdescribed.

14. A normal surface turn table, comprising'longitudinal rail members, across carrier having a roller bearing surface, a circular track beneathsaid cross carrier, and a roller bearing carried entirely by the turntable, said bearing consisting of rolls and guides for causing the rollsto travel from the rearward to the forward end of the cross carrier,during movement of the turn table, substantially as described.

'15. A table for transferring rolling stock from one trackto another,said table having a plurality of cross bearers, in combination withstringers supported thereby, roller tracks alined with said bearers,sets of rollers interposed between each cross bearer and thecorresponding track, and means extending from end to end of each crossbearer for returning the rollers from one end of the cross bearer to theother, substantially as described.

16. A normal surface transfer table, com

prising longitudinal channeled rail stringers, a plurality of crosscarriers connecting and supporting said stringers, and a circularcentral cross carrier, substantially as described.

17. A normal surface transfer table, comprising longitudinal channeledrail stringers, a plurality of cross carriers connecting and supportingsaid stringers, and a circular central cross carrier, said cross carrierbeing provided with a roller bearing and an idle roll returning device,substantially as de scribed.

18. The combination, with concentric circular tracks within a turn tablesurface, of a plurality of turn-table cross-carriers alined with saidtracks, and longitudinal track stringers connected and supported by saidcross carriers, one of the carriers being circular and supporting thecenter of the turn table, the cross carriers being provided with rollerbearings, substantially as described.

19. The combination, with concentric circular tracks within a turn tablesurface, of a plurality of turn table cross carriers alined with saidtracks, and longitudinal track stringers connected and supported by saidcross. carriers, one of the carriers being circular and supporting thecenter of the turn table, said circular carrier providing a centralbearing for the table, substantially as described.

20. A normal surface turn table, comprising longitudinal channelstringers, cross bearers thereunder, and braces connecting saidstringers between the cross bearers, substantially as described. I

21. A normal surface turn table, having longitudinal parallel depressedload bearing portions, and a plurality of cross carriers, each having aroller bearing surface and provided with an idle roll returning device,substantially as described. a

22. In a turn table, longitudinal members, a cross carrier having aroller bearing surface, a roll guide held adjacent and substantiallyparallel to said bearing surface, the ends of said guide being curved tomeet the ends of said surface and rolls within said guide, the functionof the guide being to return the rolls from the rearward to the forwardend of the roller bearing surface, substantially as described.

23. In a turn table, longitudinal members,

a cross carrier having a roller bearing surface, a roll conduit heldadjacent and substantially'parallel to said bearing surface, the ends ofsaid conduit being curved to meet the ends of said surface, and rollswithin said conduit, the function of the conduit being to return therolls from the rearward to the forward end of the roller bearingsurface, substantially as described.

24. In a turn table, longitudinal members, a cross carrier having rollerbearing surfaces, a pick up device for taking the rolls from therearward end of said surface and a guide for returning them to theforward end thereof, substantially as described.

25. In a turn table, longitudinal members, a cross carrier having rollerbearing surfaces, a pick up device for taking the rolls from the rearyard end from said surface and a conduit for returning them to theforward end thereof, substantially as described.

26. In a turn table, longitudinal members, a cross bearer having aroller bearing surface, a roll returning conduit held close to saidsurface, the ends of said conduit being curved to meet the ends of saidsurface, and a pick up device within one of said conduit ends,substantially as described.

27. In a turn table, longitudinal members, a cross bearer having aroller bearing surface, a roll returning conduit held close to saidsurface, the ends of said conduit being curved to meet the ends of saidsurface and a pick up device within each end of said conduit,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 30th day ofAugust, 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES GILBERT HAVVLEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. LEFEVRE, F. G. KNIGHT.

